TAMPA, Fla. — UTSA earned its seventh American Athletic Conference series win in its 9-7 victory over South Florida on Saturday, May. 3 at USF Baseball Stadium in Tampa, Fla.
THE BASICS:
Score: UTSA 9, South Florida 7
Records: UTSA 36-10 (17-3), USF 24-20 (12-8)
Location: USF Baseball Stadium
Win: Christian Okerholm (3-0) | Loss: Austin Newton (0-3)
In the third, Ty Hodge reached on an error to lead off the inning. The designated hitter, Broc Parmer, singled through the left side, advancing Hodge to second. Caden Miller loaded the bases for UTSA on a bunt single. Both Mason Lytle and James Taussig were able to draw four-pitch walks to give UTSA a 2-0 lead. Norris McClure drove in the third run of the third inning on a fielder’s choice, putting UTSA up 3-0.
South Florida made it a one-run game in the third as they scored two runs on back-to-back RBI singles. Jordan Ballin led off the fourth inning with a walk. Stucky advanced Ballin 90 feet on a single through the left side. Hodge singled through the left side to score Ballin, giving UTSA a 4-2 lead. In the fourth, USF added one more run on a sacrifice fly.
Parmer flew out to centerfield, allowing Stucky to reach third. With runners on the corners, Miller reached on a fielder’s choice and was able to score Stucky for the Roadrunners’ fifth run of the ball game.
Taussig led off the fifth inning with a single to left field. McClure followed that off with a single up the middle. Ballin drew a walk to load the bases for the Roadrunners. Andrew Stucky hit a deep fly to center field that allowed Taussig to score.
With runners on the corners, Hodge doubled down the left field line to score both runners. Hodge then took third on a wild pitch. Parmer was able to bring in Hodge for the Roadrunners’ fourth run of the inning on a single up the middle to go up 9-3.
USF shortened the lead in the bottom of the fifth on a two-run homer to make it 9-5. The Bulls cut down the UTSA lead to two runs on another two-run homer to make it 9-7 in the bottom of the sixth.
Connor Kelley came into the game in the bottom of the sixth, with two outs, and was able to finish the game for UTSA. Kelley tossed 3.1 scoreless innings, giving up just three hits and one walk while striking out two batters.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
- UTSA is 22-4 in day games.
- The Roadrunners are now 8-8 when they were out-hit by their opponent.
- Kelley’s 3.1 innings pitched were a career high.
- McClure recorded two hits for his 15th multi-hit game of the season.
- Hodge had two hits and three RBIS for his 17th multi-hit game and eighth multi-RBI game of the season.
- Parmer recorded two hits for his second multi-hit game of the season.
- Miller is one walk away from tying the single-season record for freshmen.
-UTSA-